Ask John: What the Hell is Wrong with Katanagari?

Question:
WTF is wrong with Katanagatari??? Great art, good story but with no real fights!!! Why??? It is an anime about 12 swords, without real sword fighting. Also, in the end [of] episode 3 they preview an epic fight, but they did not show it in episode 4!!! WTF!!!! Why they bother to draw a fight that they won’t show??? Please, John, tell me what is wrong with anime these days??? Is it me only that love to see fights and action in anime??!!!

Answer:
I’ve been accused of failing to recognize Kite Liberator and Angel Beats! as satire. I remain skeptical that these two titles were intended to be satirical, as while symbolism can be unintentional, satire, I think, must be consciously constructed. By definition satire is the art of using irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to draw attention to the foolishness of a subject or an observer’s own psychology. I’m absolutely not going to argue that there’s anything foolish about enjoying action anime and wanting to be exhilarated and satisfied by exciting spectacle, but the Katanagatari anime series consciously and clearly undermines that desire. From its earliest moments, Katanagatari humorously parodies historical action stories by contradicting expectations. The show also satirizes the viewer’s expectations for conventional anime by forcing the viewer to become aware of those pre-conceived expectations. In effect, Katanagatari actually delivers exactly what anime otaku have been craving. The show is fascinating because it is precisely the different, original, and provocative show that’s not so outré that it ceases to look and feel like conventional anime. When anime fans bitterly complain that all anime is the same, and they want something that doesn’t fall into the same cliché routines, Katanagatari is it. Katanagatari forces viewers to be conscious of their demands and expectations then turns those expectations upside down by refusing to satisfy them, or undermining them. The result is tremendously amusing because the anime itself is good, and it provokes viewers to recognize their own ironic, conflicting demands.

Spoilers follow.

The first episode begins with the seemingly capable Togame falling on her face. Her first conversation with Shichika and Nanami doesn’t go as expected because her – and the viewer’s expectations – are completely opposite of Shichika’s responses. Shichika is the current master of the Kyotouryu style of swordsmanship, yet he’s weaker than his sister whom he’s never defeated in practice combat. The supposedly formidable Maniwa ninja are rather easily defeated each time they appear. In fact, the most formidable of them inflicts more damage upon himself than Shichika and Togame do to him. The series introduces a gag about Togame incorrectly using her catchphrase then leaves viewers hanging in anticipation for literally months before delivering the punchline. The preview for episode 4 that appears at the end of episode 3 promises a previously unseen level of spectacular action. Episode 4, thoroughly, undermines that expectation by keeping the promised fight entirely off-screen. In episode 5 Shichika’s masterful Kotouryu technique which he and Togame had planned to use to decide the duel is rendered useless, forcing Shichika to totally abandon his practiced techniques and rely on sheer brute force. Episode 5 includes a nude bathing scene that’s consciously un-sexy. After repeatedly emphasizing the fact that Shichika has defeated every one of his skilled opponents without taking any damage whatsoever, he’s defeated and injured by an untrained little girl who’s merely playing a game with him. The next episode preview of episode 6 concludes with a massive spoiler for the following episode (which may or may not turn out to be true). While a next-episode preview is expected to create anticipation, the episode 7 preview ironically crushes its moment of greatest suspense.

From its very outset, the Katanagatari anime has been poking fun at its viewers, like a child jabbing a hornet’s nest with a stick. The Katanagatari anime is tremendously amusing for viewers who recognize that the show is challenging expectations and viewer perception. Viewers seeking a conventional action anime are sure to be disappointed. But viewers that are willing to let Katanagari work its magic will find that the show delivers exactly what they didn’t realize they wanted to see. The show engages viewers by creating anticipation then frequently pulling out the rug, revealing the man behind the curtain, forcing the viewer to realize his or her own preconceived expectations of conventional and predictable anime. Katanagatari is witty and wickedly ironic – characteristics which viewers aren’t used to seeing in combination in anime. Viewers looking for conventional martial arts and action anime can turn to shows like Ikkitousen XX, Fullmetal Alchemist, Heroman, and the upcoming Black Lagoon OVA series. Katanagatari is something different. It’s an adventure comedy for viewers that enjoy being surprised by something different and unconventional, and maybe an anime that will remind them that there’s really nothing wrong with wanting to watch simple, straightforward action anime.